Like everyone else who resides in Texas County, Houston Police Chief Jim McNiell was shocked and affected by the Feb. 26 murders in Tyrone.
McNiell, who lived in Houston from 1978-’92 as a patrolman and became chief when he returned to the county in 2010, was one of more than 300 who attended a candlelight vigil Sunday night at Houston High School.
“I think what happened is horrendous, tragic beyond all means, and I don’t have words to accurately describe it,” McNiell said. “That just doesn’t happen in Texas County –– that’s the type of crime that you read about happening nationally in big cities. But it shows us we’re not immune from things like this happening locally.
“As safe as Texas County is, we still have our problems.”
McNiell pointed out that major crime historically isn’t as common in the Houston city limits as in the more rural parts of the county.
“The murders, rapes and robberies don’t happen as much in town,” he said. “They’re few and far between, and we thank God for that.”
Numerous officers from several local laws enforcement agencies teamed up to do what McNiell felt was an exemplary job of handling Texas County’s darkest time. Houston police sent two officers –– Cpl. Tim Ceplina and Officer Brad Evans –– to Tyrone, and Officer Matt Woodmansee came on duty to assist Sgt. David Kidwell patrol the city limits.
“The job the Texas County Sheriff’s Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the county coroner and everyone involved did on this tragedy was excellent,” he said. “I think it’s a shame that we have to have something like happen to show how good our law enforcement is, but it’s good to know that if it does happen, every effort is going to be expended to investigate the crime.”
McNiell said he hopes Sunday night’s community service marked a point where healing began in earnest.
“This community as a whole has suffered, and my heart goes out to those families who have suffered,” he said. “But I admire how our community as a whole has pulled together. It says volumes about the kind of people who live here.”